Extensible rack



g-' 1944" v J. EQBORAH 2,354,938

' EXTENSIBLE RACK Filed NOV. 24, 1941 Fla]. H T My INVENTOR.

o/vfigcgezw d nette Au 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,354,938 iEXTENSIBLE RACK John E. Borah, Osceola, Ind. Application November24,1941, Serial No. 420,163

Claims.

A further object is to provide a telescoping tube arrangement wherein aplurality of tubes interfit for free sliding movement, and wherein eachhas integral guide means and movement limiting means at opposite endsfor cooperation with like parts on adjacent tubes to guide and limit extension of the tubes.

A further object is to provide a rack having telescoping tubes in whichspaced circumferential offsets are formed adjacent one end and a flaredenlarged portion is formed at the opposite end, said offsets serving toguide sliding movement of the tubes to and from extended position, andthe outermost offset of each encircling tube serving as an abutmentwhich is engageable by the enlarged end of the tube encircled there- Afurther object is to provide a rack including a plurality ofinterfitting tubes, wherein each encircling tube has a plurality ofspaced circumferential offsets at one end for guiding the tube encircledthereby, and the spacing of the ofisets of each tube differs from thespacing of the offsets in adjacent tubes to prevent interlocking of theoffsets when the tubes are in retracted or Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofone embodiment of the invention.

Fig. '2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrat ing the tube in anextended position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View illustrating a modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified construction ofthe outer tube of the rack.

fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of another tubemodification.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the preferredembodiment oftheinvention, the numeral llldesignates a support, here shown as arectangular frame having a front rail II, a back rail l2, and end railsI3 which are secured together to form a rigid unit. Both the front railII, and the rear rail I2 are provided with a plurality of spacedopenings therein, and these openings in the two rails II and I2 arepreferably paired in axial alignment.

within the openings in the front and rear rails i mount an outer tube I4whose forward end is outwardly spun or flared at I5 to bear against thefront face of the front rail I I. The tube M is preferably of a lengthgreater than the spacing of the rails II and I2, whereby the rear endportion thereof projects rearwardly from the rear face of the rear railI2. This rearwardly projecting portion maybe threaded at I6, asillustrated in Fig. 2, in which event a screw threaded cap I? may befitted upon the projecting threaded end I6 of tube I4 to bear againstthe rear face of rear rail I2 and thus hold the tube I4 in fixedrelation to the frame l0, and the rails I I and I2 thereof. It will beunderstood that the openings formed in the rails II and I2 arepreferably of a size to slidably and snugly receive the tube M. In Fig.I have illustrated a modified embodiment of the securing means for tubeI4 which consists in the use of a cotter pin I8 projecting throughdiametrically opposed openings in the rearwardly projecting portion I6of the tube- I4 in a position engaging the rear face of rear rail I2.Adjacent its forward end the tube I 4 is provided with a pair oflongitudinally spaced circumferential inwardly extending offsets I9.

A second or intermediate tube 20 having an outer diameter to snugly andslidably fit within the offsets I9 of tube I4 whereby the major portionof the outer surface thereof is spaced from the inner wall of tube I4,is inserted within tube I4. Tube 20 is, preferably of shorter lengththan tube I4 and has an outwardly flaring rear end portion 2| whoseouter diameter substantially conforms with the inner diameter of thetube I4, and is slidable within the tube I4. front end portion ofintermediate tube 20 are formed a pair of inwardly projecting spacedcircumferential offsets 22. I

A third or inner tube 23., whose outer diameter substantially conformswith the inner diameter At the of the circumferential offsets of theintermediate tube 28, is inserted within tube 20. Tube 23 is providedwith an enlarged flaring rear end portion 24 whose diameter issubstantially equal to the inner diameter of tube 20. A suitable handgrip member 25 is mounted upon the forward end of tube 23.

Referring to the Figs. 2 and 3, it Will be observed that the parts areso proportioned and related that when the tubes are in collapsedposition the handle 25 will project outwardly from the assembly and fromthe forward end of the tube l4 in a position to permit it to be grasped.As the user pulls upon the handle 25, theinner tube 23 is slidoutwardly, guided by the offsets "responding to the intermediate tubeand the 22 of tube 2!] and by the flared enlarged -rearj end 24 of tube23. The outward movement of tube 23 in tube 2b is limited by theabutment or engagement of the flared end portion 24 of tube 23 with therearmost offset 22 of tube 20. Thereupon, continued pull upon the handle25 moves both the inner tube 23 and the intermediate tube 20 relative tothe fixed tube l4; until the enlarged flaringend 2| of tube 20 engagesthe rearmost circumferential offset [9 a of the tube M. The fullyextended position of the parts is illustrated in-Fig. -3, and it will benoted that the longitudinally spaced circumferential offsets IQ of thetube I4 serve to position the intermediate tube 20, and thelongitudinally paced offsets 22 of the intermediate tube 20-serve toposition the inner tube 23. Hence, the outwardly flaring rear portionsand the circumferential offsets in the front portions constitute meansintegral with the tubes themselves for serving the dual purposes ofguiding and supporting-the tubes in movement and of limiting therelative extension of the tubes. The proper'spacing of thecircumferential offsets and the snug fitting thereof around the tubesencircled thereby will provide a structure wherein the extended tubesare solidly supported from the tube M and areenabled to support articlessuch as damp laundered clothing.

In order to insure againstinterlocking of thetube. Hence, not-more thanone of the ofisetson two tubes can be positioned in register, and thereis no possibility that the'oifsets will so interfit or interengage as tointerlock the tubes against extension.

The device may be assembledquite simplyafter the tube M has been securedto place by inserting the intermediate and innermost tubes into tube Mfrom the rear thereof. This necessitates the insertion of tube 23;before the hand portion 25 is applied thereto. The hand portion mayinclude a part 26 projecting within the tube 23 and secured thereto, asby a screw threaded connection or the like.

In certain instances, it may be advantageous to seal the'tubesagainstthe entry of moisture therein. This can be accomplished byforming the hand grip 25 from resilient material such as rubber, andproviding it with a frustoconical portion 2'! so positioned and of suchsize that it may be forced into the outer end of the tube I4 tobe heldtherein by its resilience or expansibility.

Vfhile the invention has been illustrated and ;described ascomprisingthree-telescoping tubes,

it will be understood that this is illustrative only,

and that any selected number of tubes may be used according to thepurpose for which the invention is used and the conditions and problemsencountered.

A slightly modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig.5. This embodiment is intended for application to wood shelves or thelike. Thus, the shelf 30 may be provided with a large diameter bore 3|extending from the rear edge thereof to a point adjacent but spacedrearwardly from the front edge of the shelf, and with a concentricreduced diameter bore portion 32 extending from the front edge of theshelf and communicating with the bore 3|. Within these bores 3| and 32may be mounted parts corinner tube 23 of the preferred embodiment of the-invention.

It will be understood that this embodiment of the invention will operatein the same manner as the preferred embodiment. A suitable closure (notshown) may be applied to the rear edge of the shelf member 30 to holdthe tubes 20 and 23 therein, or this may prove unnecessary if the rearedge of the shelf abuts a wall upon which it is mounted.

The extensible tube construction of this invention may be applied to alarge number of items such as washing machines, and space heaters, or itmay be applied to items of furniture such as chests, kitchen cabinets,shelves, and whatnots. Additionally, a unit such as thatillustrated inFig. 1 may be mounted on a supporting rack and shelf. The tubes i4 maybe spaced in the frame It] in a manner to permit articles to rest and besupported thereon in the same manner in which articles may be supportedupon a shelf or lattice work.

In certain instances where the rack is to be sold as a unit forinstallation by the user rather telescoping tube assembly in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 6. In this construction, the outer tube M is formedof two parts including a front end portion 35 and a rear end portion 36.These tube portions are provided with interfitting threaded portions 37at their inner ends which 'are of a substantial'length. The outer end ofeach of the tubes 35 and 35 is provided with a flared or enlarged endportion 38 adapted to seat against the outer face of the adjacent railsH and 2 of the supporting device. It will'be observed that when the'threads3'l are formed through a sufficient length of the device, thetube unit i4 may be adapted for mountings differing in size or lengthand an effective connection of the tube assembly M can be obtained.Thus, it would be possible to mount the tube unit I4 on supports varyingin length as much as one inch or more.

While certain advantages are achieved by the use of a pair of spacedinwardly projecting circumferential offsets such as the offsets l9 and22 of the encircling tubes of the assembly, it is not essential thatmore than one of such offsets be used in any construction. Thus, I haveillustrated in Fig. 6 the use of one circumferential offset 39 formed inthe front tube section 35 adjacent the forward end thereof but spacedrearwardly from the front edge thereof. When this offset is shallow, forexample in the order of 1% of an inch, and its spacing from the frontedge of the tube is sufficient, it will serve to support the extendedtubes within it only slightly inclined with respect to the supportingtube I4. I have found that where the spacing of the single offset 39 isin the order of one-half to threequarters of an inch from the front edgeof the tube, and its projection is in the nature of or %e of an inch,the angle at which the projecting tube extends therefrom is notsufficiently great to render the device objectionable or impractical.

Another modification of tube construction is illustrated in Fig. 7. Thismodification is particularly applicable to tubes formed of glass or likematerial and entails the provision, in the front end of a tube 40 withinwhich another tube is to be received, of a plurality of spacedlongitudinally extending ribs 41 projecting inwardly from the innerperiphery of said tube. The ribs M preferably extend from the front endof the tube and may be of any desired length effective to support thetube receivable therein when the latter is extended. A longitudinallyribbed structure may also be formed in metal tubing, as by formingoff-sets therein, in which event the angular displacement of theoff-sets of each of two interfitting tubes should differ sufliciently toprevent interlocking thereof at said ofi-sets when retracted.

Each of the parts of this invention has been referred to as a tubethroughout, but this is illustrative only. The inner member, such asmember 23, Fig. 2, may be formed of solid cylindrical or rod stock ifdesired.

I claim:

1. An extensible rack comprising a support, a plurality of telescopingtubes, and means fixedly mounting the outermost tube on said support,each of the encircling tubes having at least two spaced circumferentialinwardly off-set portions adjacent the front end thereof, the oppositeend of each of the encircled tubes flaring outwardly.

2. An extensible rack comprising a support, a plurality of concentricradially spaced telescoping tubes, and means fixedly securing theoutermost tube to said support, each of the encircling tubes having atleast two spaced circumferential off-sets adjacent the front end whoseinner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of theadjacent encircled tube, the opposite end of each encircled tube flaringoutwardly and having an outer diameter substantially equal to the innerdiameter of the adjacent encircling tube.

3. An extensible rack comprising a support, a plurality of telescopingtubes, and means securing the outermost tube to said support, each ofthe encircling tubes having at least two spaced circumferential inwardlyoff-set portions adjacent the front end thereof, the opposite end ofeach of the encircled tubes flaring outwardly, the spacing of theoff-sets of each tube differing from the spacing of the off-sets ofadjacent tubes.

4. An extensible rack comprising a support including a pair of spacedparts having aligned apertures, and a plurality of radially spacedtelescoping tubes, the outermost tube being mounted in said aperturesand having an outwardly flared forward end bearing against the frontface of the front part of said support, retaining means carried by therear end of the outermost tube rearwardly of the rear part of saidsupport, each encircling tube having a plurality of spaced inwardlyoff-set circumferential guides in its forward end portion and eachencircled tube having an integral enlarged rear end portion.

5. An extensible rack comprising a rigid support having an open endedtubular passage therethrough having a reduced diameter portion adjacentits front end, and a plurality of radially spaced telescoping tubespositioned within said passage and each having integral enlarged rearend portions, each encircling tube having a plurality of spacedcircumferential guide off-sets adjacent its front end.

6. An extensible rack comprising a support, a plurality of telescopingtubes, means fixedly securing the outermost tube to said support, eachof the encircling tubes having at least two spaced circumferentialinwardly off-set portions in the front end portion thereof, the oppositeend of each of the encircled tubes flaring outwardly, and a hand gripmember carried by the front end portion of the innermost tube and havinga frustoconical portion fitting within the mouth of the outermost tube.

7. An extensible rack comprisin a rigid support having an open endedtubular passage therethrough bearing a reduced diameter portion at itsfront end, a plurality of telescoping tubes mounted in said passage,each of the encircling tubes having at least tWo spaced circumferentialinwardly off-set portions in the front end portion thereof, the rear endof each of the encircled tubes flaring outwardly, and a hand grip memberformed of rubber-like material mounted on the front end of the innermosttube and having an enlarged frustoconical portion fitting snugly andyieldingly within the mouth of said passage.

8. An extensible rack comprising a support, a plurality of telescopingtubes, and means fixedly mounting the outermost tube in said support,said outermost tube being formed of two tube sections having elongatedinterengageable threaded inner end portions, each of the encirclingtubes having a circumferential inwardly off-set portion in the front endportion thereof spaced from the front edge thereof, the opposite end ofeach of the encircled tubes flaring outwardly.

9. A telescoping extensible rack comprising a support including opposedparts having aligned openings, a plurality of elongated interfittingrelatively slidable members, and means fixedly mounting the outermostmember in said support with its opposite ends in said openings, each ofthe encircling members having a plurality of spaced integral internalprojections adjacent the front end of its inner periphery, the oppositeend of each of the encircled members having an enlargement engageablewith at least one projection, the projections of each encircling memberbeing arranged for spaced substantially linear engagement with theencircled member.

10. An extensible rack comprising a rigid support having an open endedpassage therethrough, a tube slidable within said passage, said passageand tube each having a restriction projecting from the inner peripherythereof adjacent the front end, an elongated inner member slidablewithin said tube, said tube and member each having an enlargementengageable with one of said restrictions, and a hand grip having a frustoconical portion formed of resilient material mounted on the outer endof said member and adapted for a wedged sealing fit in the outer end ofsaid passage.

JOHN E. BORAH,

